Velocipede.



Patented Nov. I3, I900. M. VAN GULPEN.

VELOIGIPEDE. (Application fll ed June 26, 1899 6 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

In Ira nfo \Nifnesses THE Noam PETERS co, PnoYo-umo, wnsnmmow, o, c.

No. 66|,939. Patented Nov. I3, I900.- M. VAN GULPEN. VELOCIPEDE.(Application filed June 26, 1899.

(No Model.)

6 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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' Patented Nov. l3, I900. m. VAN GULPEN.

V E L 0 G I P E D E (Application filed June 26, 1899.)

6' Sheets-.Sheet 4.

(No Modal.)

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Patented Nov. l3, I900. M. VAN GULPEN.

VELOIJIPEDE. (Application filed June 26, 1899.)

6 Shuts-Sheet 5.

(No Model.)

Irv lrcn'fo w Wine/mes:

No. 66|,939. Patented Nov. l3, I900.

M. VAN GULPEN.

VELOCIPEDE.

(Application filed June 26, 1899.)

(No. Model.) 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

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m: ucnms pzrzns co, worouma, WASHINGTON. n. c.

UNi'rn MAX VAN GULPEN, OF MULHEIM-ON-THE-RHINE, GERMANY.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 661,939, dated November13, 1900.

Application filed June 26,-1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, MAX VAN GI'JLPEN, manufacturer, a subject of theKing of Prussia, Emperor of Germany, residing at Miilheim-on-the-Rhine,in the Kingdom of Prussia, German Empire, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Velocipedes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a velocipede wherein with the object ofinsuring a fuller display or utilization of the forces of the body thanhas hitherto been attainable and an in creased effective range of motionof the crank two movable side tubes or rods are connected with thesteering handle or head, and-a counter-support or abutment is arrangedwhereby the cyclist is afforded the opportunity of either bringing intooperation an abutting force acting upon the cranks at an angle, or bygrasping the side rods with his hands bringing his full power and entireweight to bear upon the crank-shaft in a vertical direction, orcombining both methods of operating the cranks. The side tubes or rodsare pivoted to the steering-handle or handle-bar and may be arranged toslide in guides revoluble upon a stationary cross bar or tube at theback of the cycle-frame, and either or both of the side tubes or rodsmay be made detachable from the steering-handle for the convenience ofthe cyclist in mounting and dismounting. -In order to enable the twoside tubes or rods to be secured in position where the course of themachine is straight, one of the said rods is provided with twocooperating levers, one of which is capable of being engaged with anddisengaged from the corresponding side tubes or rods. Increasedreliability in steering may be insured by providing the levers firstmentioned upon both of the side tubes or rods and providing the freeends of the back levers with triangles or cams, each adapted to engagein slots formed in the corresponding side tubes or rods. Thus whenevereither of these triangles or cams descends it leaves between its frontedge and the front end of the slot as much room or scope as is necessaryfor turning the machine in the desired direction, while the other siderod may in that case be moved forward to a proportionate extent. Theside tubes or rods may be used for supporting the cycle when at SerialNo. 721,916. (No model.)

rest by constructing each such tube or rod in' two separable parts, sothat the rearward part after being disconnected from the for ward partmay be moved outward and downward, so as to rest on the ground. Thecounter-support or abutment before alluded to preferably consists of aback-rest vertically movable upon swinging springcontrolled rods, whichalso serve to carry the saddle. If desired, means such as thosehereinafter described may be provided for enabling the back-rest andsaddle to be adjusted in a horizontal direction.

This invention will be best understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, in which Figure l is a plan of a portion of the improvedvelocipede. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a verticalsection on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2 looking from the front toward the backof the machine. Fig. 4 is a plan showing the movable side rods in asteering position. Fig. 5 shows side elevations of modified forms of theside rods. Fig. 6 is a side elevation showing means for locking thesteering-head and enabling the side rods to be used for supporting thecycle. Fig. 7 is a vertical section on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. Fig. 8 isa side elevation showing means for adjusting the back-rest and saddleand other parts hereinafter more particularly described, and Fig. 8 is asection on the line 8 8 of Fig. 8. Y

The horizontal tubes a are rigidly connected at their back ends with therear-fork tubes a and at their front ends with a transverse piece a Fig.1, which connects the said tubes a to the downwardly extending tube aTwo tubes b are inserted into the rear ends of the tubes a and aresecured in position by means of clamping-rings b. Upon the tubes 1),which are each bent into the shape of a fork, as illustratedparticularly in Figs. 1 and 2, short vertical tubes 6 are secured, andinto these tubes are inserted vertical tubes 0, which are maintained atany required height therein by means of clamping-rings 12 To the upperends of the vertical tubes 0, which at these parts are slightly bentforward and sidewise, thereare pivotally joined rods or tubes 61, uponwhich a slide or carriage c is movably mounted, such carriage supportingboth a back-rest e and through the medium movement of the front wheel.

of a bracket-arm f the saddlef. The lower ends of the rods or tubes 61pass through or are guided by slots provided in the forkshaped tubes 1)and are constantly pressed forward by helical springs g, provided on thesaid tubes. To a transverse cross-piece d, adjustably secured to theupper ends of the rods or tubes (Z, there is connected a tensionspring72., the lower end of which is connected with the bottom cross-piece ofthe slide or carriage e.

In order to enable the cyclist not only to exercise an abutting forcedirected toward the pedals at an angle owing to the relatively lowposition of the saddle and provision of the abutment or back-rack e, butalso to ascend and descend along with the pedals in a verticaldirection, and thereby utilize his full weight for propelling the cycle,there are arranged on both sides of the machine tubes or rods 1', whichserve for enabling the cyclist to maintain an upright position and atthe same time afford increased convenience in steering. The front endsof the tubes or rods i are pivotally jointed to the ends of thehandle-bar 7.3, while their rear ends are arranged to slide inguiding-eyes Z, which are pivoted in a horizontal transverse tube m,connected with the vertical tubes 0. For the convenience or comfort ofthe rider the tubes or rods 2' are provided with grasping-surfaces t"and with raised arms '6 the latter of which serve as rest-s for theelbows. Both the handle-bar It and the horizontal cross-piece m areformed of tubes telescoping within and adjustable to each other, so thatthe distance between the rods 11 may be varied to suit the comfort ofthe cyclist. Very considerable power may be exercised on the tubes orrods '5, so that the cyclist has the front wheel entirely under hiscontrol.

The effective length of the handle-bar may be reduced, so that even by acomparatively slight displacement of the tubes or rods 1: the cyclistmay secure an extensive angular The front end of, say, the left-handtube or rod 71 is detachable from the handle-bar It, so as to enablethis tube or rod to be moved aside when the cyclist requires to mount ordismount. As shown in Fig. 5, the tubes or rods 7; may be curved orotherwise shaped to suit any particular requirements.

The mode of employment or operation of the improved velocipede is asfollows: Let it be assumed that at the start the pedals occupy theposition shown in Fig. 2. If the left-hand tube or rod 11, for example,after having been disconnected from the handle-bar 70 be moved sidewiseoutward from the machine, it is possible for the cyclist, owing to thefact that the saddleis considerably lower and situated more nearly overthe rear-wheel axle than in safe tybicycles as hitherto constructed, sothat more free space is left within the frame than is provided in theladies cycles now in use, to remain standing with one foot on the groundas he mounts the machine, to take his seat on the saddle with greatease, and then to again secure the side tube or rod in position. Now ashe presses at an angle upon or against the right-hand pedal, his back inthe meantime being supported by the back-rest e, the saddle j, which issuspended, pendulum-like, at the points 0 by means of the rods or tubes(1, moves back, and in so doing the resistance of the springs g isovercome, while the back-rest e is drawn downward in opposition to thespring 72, whereby the machine instantly receives a powerful impulse inthe forward direction, after which the cyclist may bring his left leginto operation. Thus the cyclists back is aiforded a firm support, andinasmuch as the pedals during the further progress of the velocipede aremoved forward along an oblique line the said velocipede exhibits atendency to maintain a straight course, while the rider is enabled tokeep his'balance more readily than he could on a cycle of the usualconstruction.

Should the cyclist desire to exert his strength upon the pedalsvertically, he may readily bring himself to the necessary erect positionby resting his hands upon the side tubes or rods 1', in which positionhis movements in rotating the pedals will be assisted by the saddlebeing moved forward by the spring g and the back-rest being raised bythe spring 72,. In this position the cyclist is enabled to exert hismaximum strength until the cranks very nearly attain their lowerdead-point. In consequence of the pressure exerted by the cyclist uponthe side tubes or rods t' the cycle as it travels along maintains astraight course, the alternate depressions of the pedal-cranks notcausing any appreciable deviations. When the cyclist requires to exertthe maximum power, the two methods of operating the cranks may becombined, the rider in that case moving himself bodily upward andforward and also downward and rearward, with the result that the crankswill commence their effective stroke before they reach the usual upperdead-point and continue it until they nearly reach the usual lowerdead-point.

Owing to the movability of the back-rest and saddle the cyclist isproperly supported no matter what the posture of his body may be at thetime. In order that the range of motion of the sliding carriage e, alongwith that of the back-rest e and that of the saddlef, may be regulatedat will, the rods dare provided with adjusting rings d and the tubes 1)are provided with similar adjustingrings 1), the lower rings 61 beingpreferably arranged in such a position that the saddle is situatedsufficiently low to permit the cyclist to prop up his legs against thepedals at an angle, as shown by the arrow in Fig, 2. For the purpose ofmounting and dismounting it is more convenient for the cyclist to beable to secure the carriage e in its lowest position, which object maybe obtained, for example, by means of a lock-bar n, as illustrated inFig. 2, such bar being movable in a guiding-slot in the saddle-supportor bracketarm f and capable of being shifted rearward under a transversepart of the standard-tubes Z1 After mounting this look device may bereleased. f designates guide-rods specially provided for the saddle f.

For the convenient transport of luggage a plate b may be secured onrearward extensions of the tubes 5 and hooks or the like may for thesame object be provided on the vertical tubes 0. Where, however, it isnecessary to carry luggage, it is desirable that means should beavailable for firmly supporting the velocipede in position when at rest.According to the example shown in Figs. 6 and 7this result is attainedby constructing one or both of the side tubes or rods '5 in two partsand by connecting it (or them) with the before-mentioned transverse tubem, so that it or they may be revoluble in a downward as well as ahorizontal direction. On the front part i of the side tube or rod 7;there is provided a spring catch or pawl 29, which normally engages inan aperture or recess in the rear portion 2' of such tube or rod. l/Vhenthe pawl is released, this rear portion 1' may be withdrawn ordisconnected from the front portion 2' and moved outward and downward,the guiding-eye Zfor this purpose being pivoted in a sleeve Z, which isitself pivoted to the transverse tube m, Fig. 7. By these means when thetubes or rods tare turned outward and downward, as last described, theirlower ends may rest upon the ground, and they are thus caused to act aslateral supports for maintaining the cycle in its vertical position. I

Figs. 6 and 7 further illustrate an arrangement for securing the rods 2'in a straight direction of motion, thereby rendering the process ofturning or steering more reliable. In the rear portion of one of theside tubes or rods there is pivoted at q a lever g, which by means of asmall roller carried on its free end engages with a slot 7", provided ina twoarmed lever r. This lever r is pivoted in the lower bifurcated endZ of the guiding-eyel and has its rear or hook-shaped end 1' constantlypressed by a spring 8 into or toward a recess in the tube or rod 1', sothat the said tube or rod 2' is firmly secured for a straight course ofmotion. Now when it is desired to turn the machine it is only necessaryin grasping the handles 1" to pull the lever q upward, so as todisengage the hook r from the tube or rod 1' and then to move the latterlongitudinally to the required extent. To render the steering still morereliable, the arrangement described may be placed under both of the sidetubes or rods t, and, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6, the two-armedlever r may be extended rearward and a triangle or cam r be attached tothe end of each such lever. By the action of the springs s the trianglesor cams are each constantly pressed into aslot provided in the adjacentside tube or rod 2' in such a manner that its front edge rests againstthe front end of the slot, while between the rear of the cam and backend of the slot a sufficient amount of free space is provided. Nowsupposing, for example, that it is desired to turn the cycle to theright a slight upward pull is exercised upon the lever q, located underthe right-hand tube or rod i, whereby the corresponding triangle islowered and caused to leave between its front edge and the front end ofthe slot as much free space as is necessary to permit the said rod 2' tobe drawn back to the required extent, the left-hand side rod i beingfree to be moved forward by reason of the free space between the backedge of the cam and the rear end portion of the'slot.

In the modifications shown in Figs. 8 and 8 the horizontal tube 1),which carries the vertical tubes c,with the pend ulum rods cl suspendedtherefrom, is made adjustable, so that the backrest, together with thesaddle f, may be adjusted horizontally without affecting the spring g,which in this example may be located within the tube 1). To the rods dthere is pivoted a rod d, the perforated rear portion of which is guidedby a transverse tie of the vertical tubes 0, as shown in dotted lines inFig. 8. By inserting a pin or stud (:1 into a hole in the said rod d theeffective power of the springg may be varied and the forward movement ofthe back-rest limited. The clamping-sleeves I) serve for securing thetube 1) in position.

Owingto the fuller utilization of power which is attained in thebefore-described velocipede and to the increased amount of space whichit provides within its frame as compared with existing machines,thechain-wheel employed on the crank-axle may be of considerably largersize than hitherto.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent ofthe United States, is

1. In a velocipede the combination with the saddle and the steering-barof two movable side tubes between which the saddle is arranged,back-rest and means for detaching one or both of the side tubes from thesteering-bar, the said side tubes being pivotally connected to thesteering-bar and movable in pivoted guides in the rear of thecycle-frame, essentially as and for the purpose described.

2. In a velocipede, the combination of a seat, a back-rest or support, avertically-movable frame or carriage by which both the seat andback-rest are supported, and a tensionspring connected with such frameor carriage, substantially as set forth.

3. In a velocipede, the combination of a seat, pendulum-like, pivotedrods by which the saddle is supported, thus permitting a forward andback movement of the saddle, and springs which hold the saddle in normalposition and are arranged to yield and permit the saddle to move whencertain pressure is applied to the pedal.

4. In a velocipede, the combination of pendulu m-like pivoted arms darranged to move in a forward and back direction at their lower ends,the springs g which hold them with a yielding force in a certain normalposition, a vertically-movable frame or carriage e mounted upon the rodsd, the saddle and a backrest supported in such frame or carriage, and atension-spring, h, connected with the frame or carriage, substantiallyas set forth.

5. In a velocipede the combination of the steering-bar of two movableside tubes,a backrest and means for securing the said side tubes instraight direction, consisting of two cooperating levers one of which isfulcru med in fixed relation to the frame and engages by a projectionwith a recess in the corresponding side tube, essentially as and for thepurpose described.

6. In a velocipede the combination with the steering-bar of two movableside tu-bes,a backrest and levers fulcrumed in fixed relation to theframe and cooperating with the side tubes, which levers carry trianglesor cams adapted to engage in slots of the said tubes, essentially as andfor the purpose described.

7. In a velocipede,the combination with the steering-bar, of a movableside tube formed of two separate parts, one connected with thesteering-bar, and the rear one having sliding, as well as asubstantially universal connection with the frame, whereby when theparts of said side tube are disconnected, the rear part may be movedoutward and down to constitute a rest or support for the velocipede,substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing witnesses.

MAX VAN GULPEN.

Witnesses:

LOUISE BARNE's, WILLIAM H. MADDEN. v

